(BSS) - The honey collection in the Eastern Sundarbans begins today while in the Western Sundarbans will begin on April 7.

Although the honey collection season was scheduled to begin on April 1 with the issuance of permits from the Forest Department, the official inauguration was delayed due to the Eid vacations.

According to forest officials, honey collectors from Eastern Sundarbans began their honey collection today, although they started their journey towards Sundarbans last evening.

Talking to BSS, Dipon Chandra Das, and Rana Dev, Range Officers of Chandpai and Shoronkhola of the East Division of Sundarbans, said that they have issued 43 and 20 permits respectively until April 4 (yesterday) to the Mouals (Honey Collectors).

They asked honey collectors to throng all forest stations of the Division in the next few days to collect permits.

Meanwhile, the honey collection of Khulna and Satkhira Range of the West Division of Sundarbans will begin on April 7.

Forest Officers of the two Ranges have already issued permits to the Mouals and it will continue before the season that will end on May 31.

Ziaur Rahman, the Station Officer of Burigoalini in the Satkhira Range said, they have started to issue permits to Mouals and handed them over through offering prayers and seeking blessings.

He said the usual vibrant inauguration of the honey collection season did not take place this year due to Eid-ul-Fitr. But, necessary permits have been issued on a limited scale.

This year, the government has set a target of collecting 1,500 quintals of honey and 400 quintals of beeswax.

In the 2023-24 fiscal years, honey collectors extracted 1,235 quintals of honey and 370.50 quintals of beeswax, with 2,470 honey collectors using 364 permits.

Wahid Mia, a honey collector, who took permits from the Dhangmari Station under Chandpai Range, is hopeful to collect more honey than last season.

He also expressed concerns over illegal harvesting before the official season, fearing it could impact their expected yield.

"We are entering the forest after Eid with high hopes, but we are uncertain whether we will get the expected amount of honey due to illegal extractions," he said.

Masum Hossain, another honey collector of Shoronkhola Range feared Jungle pirates, requesting authorities to take initiatives for necessary security measures in the forest.

He also urged the government to allow honey collection in the protected areas of the Sundarbans, adding that a significant portion of honey goes to waste if not harvested.

Officials are hopeful that this year`s collection will also meet the expected target, he added.